2017 NFL Free Agents: Guards for Miami Dolphins to target

Detroit Lions guard Larry Warford is a guard the Miami Dolphins may consider in free agency.

The Miami Dolphins need guards. It doesn’t matter if they come through free agency or the draft, perhaps both. But guard has long been a problem area for Miami and moving Laremy Tunsil to left tackle and trading or cutting Branden Albert and likely trying to upgrade from Jermon Bushrod leaves two holes headed into the 2017 season. The top free agent guards may cost more than Miami’s budget allows. But never count Miami out of engaging the top free agents at positions of need.

Here’s a look at Miami’s guard situation and some of the top options in free agency:

2016 Starting Guards

Jermon Bushrod (16 starts)

Pro Football Focus Rating: #69 Guard

Age: 32

2017 Contract: Unrestricted Free Agent

Laremy Tunsil moves from guard to his more natural tackle position in 2017, creating at least one more void for Miami at guard.

Laremy Tunsil (14 starts, 12 at guard)

Pro Football Focus Rating: #41 Guard

Age: 22

2017 Contract: $2.8 million

Kraig Urbik (2 starts)

Pro Football Focus Rating: #35 Center

Age: 31

2017 Contract: $1.4 million

Dallas Thomas (1 start)

Pro Football Focus Rating: Unranked

Age: 27

2017 Contract: Was cut by Dolphins, signed by Eagles

Top 2017 Free Agent Guards

Kevin Zeitler is the top free agent guard in the class of 2017. Miami may not want to spend the type of money Zeitler figures to command in the open market. But they have shown a willingness to invest in both lines.

Kevin Zeitler (Cincinnati)

Pro Football Focus Rating: #7 Guard

Age: 26

Contract Expectation: $11.6 million/season (spotrac.com)

T.J. Lang (Green Bay)

Pro Football Focus Rating: #8 Guard

Age: 29

Contract Expectation: $8.4 million/season (spotrac.com)

Larry Warford (Detroit)

Pro Football Focus Rating: #20 Guard

Age: 25

Contract Expectation: $6.2 million/season (spotrac.com)

Ronald Leary (Dallas)

Pro Football Focus Rating: #24 Guard

Age: 27

Contract Expectation: $9.1 million/season (spotrac.com)

Chance Warmack was the 10th overall pick in the 2013 draft and hasn’t really lived up to that status, in part due to injury. But Warmack will be an interesting guard on the free agent market.

Chance Warmack (Tennessee)

Pro Football Focus Rating: Unranked

Age: 25

Contract Expectation: Earned $3.8 million in 2016

Austin Pasztor (Cleveland)

Pro Football Focus Rating: #30 Guard

Age: 26

Contract Expectation: $5.2 million/season (spotrac.com)

John Jerry played guard for the Miami Dolphins from 2010-2013. Miami center Mike Pouncey feels Jerry was very underrated.

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About the Authors

Jason Lieser has covered sports in Chicago, New Orleans and now South Florida

Joe Schad is a sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post who covers the Miami Dolphins. He previous covered sports for ESPN, the Orlando Sentinel and Newsday.

After 19 years as a sports writer, copy editor and assistant sports editor at The Miami Herald, Hal Habib joined The Palm Beach Post's sports department in 1998. Areas of coverage range from the Olympics, Kentucky Derby and Super Bowl to local sports.